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1: Vasc Health Risk Manag. 2008;4(3):575-96.Click here to read Links

Fibrosis in diabetes complications: pathogenic mechanisms and circulating and urinary markers.

Ban CR, Twigg SM.

Discipline of Medicine and Department of Endocrinology, The University of Sydney and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia.

Diabetes mellitus is characterized by a lack of insulin causing elevated blood glucose, often with associated insulin resistance. Over time, especially in genetically susceptible individuals, such chronic hyperglycemia can cause tissue injury. One pathological response to tissue injury is the development of fibrosis, which involves predominant extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation. The main factors that regulate ECM in diabetes are thought to be pro-sclerotic cytokines and protease/anti-protease systems. This review will examine the key markers and regulators of tissue fibrosis in diabetes and whether their levels in biological fluids may have clinical utility.

PMID: 18827908 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

PMCID: PMC2515418